World Trade Report 2012: Trade and Public Policies: A Closer Look at Non-Tariff Measures in the 21st Century

A Closer Look at Non-Tariff Measures in the 21st Century

World Trade Organization (WTO)

World Trade Report 2012: Trade and Public Policies: A Closer Look at Non-Tariff Measures in the 21st Century, by the World Trade Organization (WTO), examines trade policy measures beyond traditional tariffs and their impact on international trade.

The report explores the growing importance of regulatory measures affecting trade in goods and services and the challenges they create for international cooperation in the 21st century. These measures often serve important public policy objectives, such as protecting consumer health, safety, and well-being, but they may also be designed or applied in ways that unnecessarily restrict trade.

The report focuses on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures relating to food safety and animal and plant health, and domestic regulation in services.

It examines why governments use Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs), how these measures influence international trade, and the extent to which they may create trade distortions. It also discusses the availability of information on NTMs and recent trends in their use.

The report analyses the impact of regulatory measures on trade and considers how regulatory harmonization and mutual recognition of standards can help reduce unnecessary trade barriers.

It further examines international cooperation on NTMs and services regulation, including the economic reasons for cooperation and the design of rules within trade agreements.

The report also reviews cooperation on TBT and SPS measures within the multilateral trading system and other international institutions. It provides a legal analysis of the treatment of NTMs in the WTO dispute settlement system, including interpretations arising from international trade disputes.

The report concludes with a discussion of outstanding challenges and key policy implications.

Key Features

• Examines Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) and their effects on international trade.

• Discusses Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures.

• Explores domestic regulation affecting international trade in services.

• Analyses the reasons governments introduce regulatory trade measures.

• Reviews trends in the use of NTMs and the availability of related information.

• Examines regulatory harmonization and mutual recognition of standards.

• Discusses international cooperation and the design of rules in trade agreements.

• Provides legal analysis of NTMs within the WTO dispute settlement system.

• Highlights outstanding challenges and key policy implications.

• Author: World Trade Organization (WTO)

• Publisher: WTO

• Publication Date: 1 January 2012

• Edition: 2012th

• Language: English

• Format: Paperback

• Pages: 248

• ISBN-10: 9287038155

• ISBN-13: 9789287038159